Scottish Executive

Census

Mr John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many forms for the 2001 Census were printed in Gaelic; who was eligible to receive such forms, and whether it was an offence for someone able to write in English to complete a Gaelic census form.

Mr Jim Wallace: As agreed by the Parliament, the 2001 Scottish Census forms were not available in Gaelic. However, the Registrar General for Scotland printed 10,000 Gaelic translations of the questions included on the census form to assist Gaelic speakers in completing the census form. The translations were available to anyone on request.

  There is a legal requirement to complete the census form in English. Anyone needing assistance to complete their census form was able to ask their enumerator or contact Gaelic-speaking operators on the Census Helpline.

Census

Mr John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is an offence for an enumerator to divulge any information provided on a census form to a third party; if so, what the penalties are and what official complaints procedure exists for members of the public who wish to complain about enumerators or about the census form itself.

Mr Jim Wallace: It is an offence under section 8 of the Census Act 1920 as amended by the Census (Confidentiality) Act 1991 for an enumerator or any other person, without lawful authority, to disclose any personal census information to another person. A person found guilty shall be liable (a) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both; or (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or both. Complaints about the conduct of enumerators or the census form should be made to the Registrar General for Scotland in the first place.

Drug Misuse

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to set targets for the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency in 2001-02 and whether these will be published.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Drug Enforcement Forum which, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Minister for Justice, oversees the work of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA), formally endorsed the SDEA’s objectives, key activities, performance indicators and targets for 2001-02 at its meeting on 4 June. Copies of the agreed targets have been placed in the Parliament’s reference centre.

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring it is undertaking of the current situation with the education budget of Scottish Borders Council.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any cuts in the provision of education services by Scottish Borders Council.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional funding will be made available to Scottish Borders Council if the consequence of the projected £3.9 million overspend in their education budget were to be cuts in staffing, school closures and cuts in the provision of other education services.

Mr Jack McConnell: Councils are independent of central Government control and are locally accountable.

  The Scottish Executive expects local authorities to manage their budgets on the resources available to them.

  The Accounts Commission for Scotland has the overall responsibility for issues concerning the accounts of local authorities in Scotland. The Controller of Audit may decide to make a report to the Accounts Commission on a particular matter arising out of or in connection with the accounts of any local authority, or the Accounts Commission may ask him to produce such reports as it requires. This is a matter for them.

  I understand that the council are considering a range of measures which might be taken to address the deficits they have identified. There are no plans to make additional funds available to Scottish Borders Council.

Electronics Industry

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the electronics industry.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The electronics sector is experiencing global restructuring. The Scottish Executive is presently working closely with the industry and enterprise network to address the economic development and skills issues which will enable the industry to compete for high-value-added work. The new Future Skills Scotland unit will also have a key role in identifying the future skills requirements of the sector.

Employment

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking regarding the recently announced redundancies at the USI plant in Irvine.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive very much regrets the job losses resulting from USI’s decision to downsize its plant at Irvine. Our main concern is to ensure that everything possible is done to assist those affected find alternative employment. Local agencies are aware of the situation at USI, and assistance will be provided to those affected in accordance with the principles outlined in the Scottish Executive’s Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) framework.

Finance

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what adjustments were made to the Scottish assigned budget in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02 as a result of any differential movements in Scotland, compared with England, in the level of (i) public sector housing benefit, (ii) private sector housing benefit and (iii) council tax benefit being paid.

Angus MacKay: No adjustments were made in 2000-01. I expect adjustments to be made in 2001-02 in respect of both 2000-01 and 2001-02. These will not include the effects of differential movements in private sector housing benefit, as changes in level of private sector rents are not a matter over which the Executive exercises direct control.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has spent to date on setting up and running helplines connected with the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Ross Finnie: This information is not held centrally.

Licensing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any adjustments in the levels of revenue support grant for local authorities will be made as a result of the provisions in the Gaming Act (Variation of Fees) (No.2) (Scotland) Order 2001 (SSI 2001/230).

Mr Jim Wallace: The intention of the revised levels of fee is to allow local authority licensing boards to achieve full cost recovery for processing gaming licences under the Act. Since there are many more licences for bingo than for casinos, it is unlikely the changes will result in less income for licensing boards. The changes follow the recommendations of the Gaming Board, following a National Audit Office study of the board. The revised fees should more accurately reflect the costs to local authority licensing boards of administering the licensing process.

Local Government Elections

Kate MacLean (Dundee West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to introduce for Scottish local authority elections, including by-elections, measures to assist disabled voters similar to those provided for in the Representation of the People Act.

Peter Peacock: Similar measures will be introduced for Scottish local government elections later this year.

Medical Training

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to train more surgeons.

Susan Deacon: The number of higher specialist training posts available in Scotland is regularly adjusted to meet the projected number of new consultants needed to meet known and anticipated turnover and local service developments. The specialist registrar establishment for the surgical specialties was increased in March 2001 from 228 to 253, meaning that the total number of specialist training posts in surgery has risen by almost 11% in the last year.

  As I announced on 20 June, Professor John Temple is to chair the fundamental review of medical workforce planning which was a commitment in Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change. The review will consider the many complex areas surrounding the supply of trained doctors to NHSScotland.

Parliamentary Questions

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why question S1W-14344, lodged on 21 March 2001, did not receive a substantive answer until 18 June 2001 and whether this is an acceptable timescale.

Susan Deacon: I regret that, due to an administrative oversight, the question was not answered by the due date.

Planning

Mr John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the Ministry of Defence regarding recent revisions to planning guidance on renewable energy developments.

Lewis Macdonald: No representations were received by or on behalf of the Ministry of Defence in response to the consultation process in the review of National Planning Policy Guideline 6: Renewable Energy Developments .

Planning

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what immunity the Crown enjoys in Scotland in respect of planning law and what plans it has for legislation to remove or amend Crown immunity in devolved areas.

Lewis Macdonald: The Crown is exempt from the requirements of planning legislation. The Executive intends to remove that exemption at the first suitable legislative opportunity.

Police

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many high profile or VIP visits to Edinburgh since 1 July 2000 have required the use of Lothian and Borders police resources.

Mr Jim Wallace: Lothian and Borders Police have advised us that since 1 July 2000 there have been 141 high profile or VIP visits to Edinburgh each requiring different levels of police involvement. This figure includes royal visits, foreign Heads of State and a number of other visitors.

Public Bodies

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce a location for the Scottish Public Pensions Agency.

Angus MacKay: An announcement will be made shortly.

Scottish Executive Contracts

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) internet service provider and (b) internet exchange it currently uses and, if this internet exchange is not located in Scotland, what plans it has to change to an internet service provider which uses a Scottish exchange, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Angus MacKay: The Scottish Executive’s internet service provider is Cable and Wireless, who support the Government Secure Intranet (GSI). Members of the GSI have access to a range of services including a facility to exchange classified electronic mail securely, secure access to the internet, and directory services. Changing our internet service provider would mean that we could no longer use the GSI and we therefore have no plans at present to make such a change. When procuring services of this nature, the Scottish Executive would not discriminate in favour of providers based in Scotland, or providers using Scottish exchanges, because European law prohibits discrimination on grounds of nationality or location when awarding public contracts.

Scottish Executive Contracts

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) internet service provider and (b) internet exchange is currently used by (i) Scottish Enterprise, (ii) Highlands and Islands Enterprise, (iii) VisitScotland, (iv) each health board and (v) each local authority; whether, if some or all of these bodies do not currently use an internet service provider which uses a Scottish internet exchange, it will encourage them to switch to a provider which uses a Scottish exchange and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Angus MacKay: Procurement decisions by non-departmental bodies, health boards and local authorities are a matter for the individual bodies concerned. The information requested is not therefore held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. It is not possible for the Executive to encourage the bodies listed to switch to an internet service provider which uses a Scottish exchange; it would be unlawful under European law for public bodies to discriminate in favour of providers according to their location, or the location of their sub-contractors.

Scottish Executive Contracts

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether using an internet service provider which uses an internet exchange located in Scotland can offer any financial benefits to Scottish public bodies and, if so, what these benefits are.

Angus MacKay: The Executive welcomes the establishment of internet exchange facilities in Scotland and hopes that they will prove to be successful. Internet service providers which use an internet exchange based in Scotland, like any other service provider, should have the opportunity to compete, on the basis of value for money, for public sector requirements as and when they are advertised.

Skye Bridge

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to safeguard users of the Skye Bridge following the move into provisional liquidation of the Independent Insurance Group, Skye Bridge Limited’s public liability insurers.

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that users of the Skye Bridge were sufficiently safeguarded by the public liability insurance cover in place before, during and after the move into provisional liquidation of the Independent Insurance Group.

Sarah Boyack: The question of insurance is primarily a matter for the operators of the bridge, Skye Bridge Limited. However, officials have discussed the recent change in insurance arrangements with the company and are satisfied that proper provision has been maintained.

Skye Bridge

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether alternative public liability cover has been put in place in respect of the Skye Bridge following the move into provisional liquidation of the Independent Insurance Group and, if so, when these alternative arrangements were put in place.

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which insurance company now provides public liability insurance cover in respect of the Skye Bridge.

Sarah Boyack: Yes. I understand that third party liability cover was placed with Groupama Insurance on Monday 18 June 2001.

Skye Bridge

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any period during which there was no public liability insurance cover in respect of the Skye Bridge.

Sarah Boyack: No. Public liability insurance cover remained in force with Independent Insurance Group until transferred to Groupama Insurance.

Special Educational Needs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria have to be met for children with cerebral palsy to participate in mainstream education.

Nicol Stephen: No specific criteria are set for children with special educational needs (SEN) to be included in mainstream. Under section 15 of the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Etc Act 2000, education authorities will be required to include all pupils with special educational needs in mainstream schools except under certain specified circumstances.

  The needs of all children with SEN are assessed by the relevant education authority to ensure the most appropriate educational provision is made. National circular 4/96 provides advice to education authorities about the statutory arrangements for providing education and undertaking assessments of children and young people with special educational needs.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority has contributed to its local area tourist board in each year since 1997.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The information is as follows:

  Local Authority Grants to Area Tourist Boards

  Area Tourist Board   Local Authority   1997-98 (£)   1998-99 (£)   1999-2000 (£)   2000-01 (£)   2001-02 (£) Aberdeen and Grampian   Aberdeen City   300,000   150,000   150,000   150,000   150,000 Aberdeenshire   300,000   300,000   300,000   300,000   300,000 Moray   100,000   150,000   165,000   165,000   150,000 Angus & City of Dundee   Angus   158,000   158,000   158,000   158,000   158,000   Dundee   246,000   246,000   246,000   246,000   246,000 Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and Trossachs   Argyll And Bute   189,000   190,000   169,000   170,000   170,000 Clackmannan-shire   28,807   59,300   28,800   28,800   28,870 Falkirk   6,300   55,400   60,300   57,000   57,082 Stirling   157,455   195,600   235,400   235,400   153,850 West- Dunbartonshire   56,325   56,200   57,700   57,700   55,030 Ayrshire and Arran   East Ayrshire   82,450   79,200   79,200   80,000   79,150   North Ayrshire   170,000   163,200   163,200   158,300   158,300   South Ayrshire   153,000   145,500   146,900   141,135   141,150 Dumfries and Galloway   Dumfries and Galloway   360,000   350,000   350,000   350,000   360,500 Edinburgh & Lothians   Edinburgh   989,200   989,600   989,600   989,600   989,600   East Lothian   185,700   185,000   185,000   200,000   206,000   West Lothian   46,500   62,900   62,900   59,755   62,900   Midlothian   35,000   35,000   35,000   35,000   35,000 Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley   Glasgow   1,496,398   1,448,779   1,645,093   1,908,000   1,918,000   East- Dunbartonshire   0   0   0   0   40,000   East-Renfrewshire   0   0   0   0   0   Inverclyde   100,000   100,000   100,000   40,000   0   North- Lanarkshire   0   60,000   60,000   0   0   Renfrewshire   70,000   56,000   73,000   73,300   85,500   South- Lanarkshire   102,000   97,000   97,000   97,000   97,000 Highlands of Scotland   Highland   550,000   495,000   509,900   487,523   497,273 Kingdom of Fife   Fife   480,000   450,000   450,000   450,000   450,000 Orkney   Orkney   185,500   190,100   190,100   198,696   189,000 Perthshire   Perthshire   514,200   483,500   469,000   469,000   468,500 Scottish Borders   Scottish Borders   275,000   267,000   269,000   269,000   277,000 Shetland   Shetland   107,000   129,000   188,500   130,000   150,000 Western Isles   Western Isles   70,000   82,000   84,500   84,050   84,050

  * Note: These figures are based on information up to April 2001.

Transport

Mr John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets were set for the number of grants to be paid under the Powershift programme for the conversion of vehicles to run on liquid petroleum gas in each year since the programme started.

Rhona Brankin: No targets are set for Powershift grants.

Water Supply

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to lodge a motion in the Parliament on the fluoridation of the public water supply.

Malcolm Chisholm: Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change promised a wide-ranging consultation on children’s oral health, which would seek views on a range of measures, including fluoridation of public water supplies. Proposals for the consultation are being developed and will be announced in due course.